Utility rack



May 27, 1941. A. T. BELL UTILITY RACK Filed Sept. 17, 1940 awe/MM r44 w/V TEELL w (Limb Patented May 27, 194i ATN OFFIQE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a utility rack and more particularly to a rack from which a plurality of articles such as gaskets or the like may be suspended.

An object of the invention is to provide a rack in which a large number of articles may be suspended within a comparatively small over-all space and to mount the rack in such a manner that it may be readily moved about.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the rack that the plurality of articles suspended thereon will hang in horizontal rows without interference with one another while permitting easy access to the articles suspended from any one row.

A still further object is to construct a rack from standard items of manufacture so that the cost and fabrication of the rack is economical and simple.

In the drawing Fig. l is a side .elevational View of the assembled rack;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of an end of one of the supporting arms;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing the construction of the openings through which'the ends of the horizontal arms pass;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of one of the horizontal pipe supports.

Numeral i denotes the spaced parallel side frames of the rack that are preferably made of conventional angle irons. The side frames comprise a front vertical portion joined by a horizontal bottom bar and a longer upstanding rear bar with the lower front portion and the longer rear portion joined by an arcuate section I. The angle iron forming each side frame may be a continuous length bent into the shape shown or it may be fabricated from a plurality of shorter sections welded to each other.

The two spaced side frames constructed as above described are joined at their lower edges by exterior angle irons 2 which may be fastened through the frame members I by bolts or the like. The upper ends of the rear bars of the frame are joined by an exterior angle iron 3 that is bolted to both webs of the frame irons. To support the rack and provide for its mobility the parallel exterior tie bars 2 are mounted on swivel casters 6.

A plurality of spaced horizontal article supporting rods 4 are carried throughout the length of the upper arcuate sections I of the frame, and it will be appreciated that the utilization of armate sections permits a plurality of articles to be suspended from the carrying rods 4 while allowing easy access to the articles suspended from any one rod. This construction keeps the articles on each rod separated from one another both horizontally and vertically. When it is desired to remove an article from any one rack, the operator may reach any article and remove it Without difiiculty or contact with the articles on any succeeding row.

The horizontal supporting rods 4 are formed from tubing with the outer ends thereof threaded and closed by a conventional pipe cap 5 and are of such a length that the bottom of the threads on each end thereof corresponds to the distance between the side frames 1 so that the caps 5 when threaded on the rods press against the side frames and together with the exterior angle irons 2 and 3 brace the rack in a rigid and substantial manner.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, it will be seen that a plurality of corresponding round openings 1 are formed in the arcuate frame sections I for the reception of the ends of the pipe rods 4. portion 8 to cooperate and bind with opposite parallel slots 9 cut in the pipes 4 immediately below the screw-threaded end sections.

In fabricating the rack the rods 4 are positioned .thro-ugh'the circular openings 1 and by reason of the slots 9 may be forced into the narrow straight-sided section 8 of the openings 7. The end caps 5 are then screwed on to the ends of the rods and bind the side edges of the frame against the bottom of the slots. Thereafter the external angle irons 2 and 3 are bolted or otherwise secured to the spaced side frames and the casters 6 are mounted on the lower parts of the angle irons 2. This construction forms a substantial and economical rack. As before stated, the articles to be stored. may be suspended from the rods 4 by hooks or other securing means, and while the rack has been particularly designed for supporting automobile gaskets, the construction heretofore described lends itself for use with many types of articles.

Depending on the size, shape or length of the articles to be supported from the rods l, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the spacing between the rods held in the arcuate sections may be varied to meet the requirements These openings have an offset narrow for more or less space therebetween. In some instances to get more space for large articles, several of the rods may be removed or additional rods may be inserted.

What I claim is:

1. A utility rack comprising spaced vertical parallel frames having depending arcu-ate top sections, tie irons secured to the lower corners and top corner of the arcuate sections, and a plurality of spaced apart horizontal article supporting rods connecting the said arcuate top sections, said rods consisting of pipes having threaded ends extending through opening in the said arcuate frame sections, and threaded covers on said pipe ends engaging the arcuate sections.

2. A utility rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said article supporting pipes are slotted immediately to the rear of the'threaded end portions for engagement with the sides of the openings formed in the arcuate sections.

3. A utility rack of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein the openings in the arcuate sections for the reception of the article supporting pipes are laterally extended to form a narrower straightsided passage and the said pipes are slotted directly behind their threaded ends to enable the slotted portions to engage the straight-sided passages of the openings.

ALVIN TURNER BELL. 

